sheer success

USAGE SUMMARY

"sheer success" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is a complete and total success, without any doubt or uncertainty. Example: The team's hard work and dedication led to sheer success in the championship game, as they dominated their opponents and emerged as champions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But it was sheer success that made him, in the end, "a little hot".

The Economist

For sheer success at the ballot box, Blair's only rival in living memory has been Margaret Thatcher, another three-straight winner.

The New Yorker

Aside from the sheer success of the show, the biggest surprise to Kauffman and Crane is how they were able to stay true to their original vision.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Having engaged generations of young readers in her all-consuming fantastical world of wizardry J.K. Rowling's sheer success secures Harry Potter's place in the top 10 modern classics.

The Guardian

With amazing chutzpah, "Casino Jack" then turned to the defeated Texans and offered to champion their cause for a fee.According to Mr Abramoff's accusers, the sheer success of his caper forced him to bend even more rules.

The Economist

"It is one of the greatest public health interventions in terms of sheer success and lives saved," said Philip E. Castle, an expert on cervical cancer screening at the National Cancer Institute.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

And I think for the Palestinians, they feel honor and pride are very important in their culture, and they feel utterly humiliated, whether it's at roadblocks or just by the sheer wealth and success of society that's set up right next to them, the Israelis.

The New York Times - Books

The third is a combination of visualizing success, sheer hard work and reconfiguring your mindset to embrace a victory on the way to becoming victorious.

Huffington Post

But Mr. Welch, who is 32, also attributes his quick success to sheer perseverance.

The New York Times - Arts

Noncognitive skills like persistence and self-control are more crucial to success than sheer brainpower, Tough maintains.

The New York Times - Books

When I talked to Ternovskiy in Moscow, he was content to see his success as sheer luck.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sheer success" to emphasize that the success was achieved purely through the mentioned qualities or actions, without external factors.

Common error

Avoid using "sheer success" when the success was heavily influenced by external factors like luck or connections, as "sheer" implies that it was primarily due to the mentioned factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer success" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "sheer" modifies the noun "success", emphasizing the extent and the unadulterated nature of the accomplishment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing various achievements across different domains.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sheer success" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize the complete and unadulterated nature of an achievement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It commonly appears in news, media, and scientific contexts, conveying a neutral to professional tone. While less frequent than simple "success", it adds emphasis on the magnitude and purity of the accomplishment. Remember to use it when the success is due to a mentioned factor and avoid it when luck plays a vital role.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complete triumph

Replaces "success" with a synonym emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the victory.

unmitigated success

Substitutes "sheer" with "unmitigated", highlighting the absence of negative aspects in the success.

resounding victory

Replaces both words with a phrase that emphasizes the decisiveness and impact of the achievement.

total accomplishment

Focuses on the completeness of the achievement rather than the degree of success.

absolute achievement

Highlights the completeness and perfection of the success.

remarkable accomplishment

Emphasizes the noteworthiness and impressiveness of the success.

sweeping success

Indicates a success that is broad in scope and impact.

unequivocal triumph

Emphasizes the certainty and lack of ambiguity in the success.

overwhelming victory

Focuses on the scale and dominance associated with the victory.

undeniable achievement

Highlights the impossibility of disputing the success.

FAQs

How can I use "sheer success" in a sentence?

"Sheer success" is used to describe an outcome achieved purely through a specific quality or action. For example: "The project's "sheer success" was attributed to the team's dedication."

What phrases are similar to "sheer success"?

Alternatives include "complete triumph", "unmitigated success", or "resounding victory", all emphasizing different aspects of accomplishment.

Is it appropriate to use "sheer success" in formal writing?

Yes, "sheer success" is suitable for formal writing, particularly when you want to emphasize the impact of specific internal factors on achieving a positive outcome.

What does "sheer" mean in the context of "sheer success"?

In this context, "sheer" means "nothing but" or "purely". It emphasizes that the success was achieved predominantly or exclusively through the factor being described, such as effort or determination.